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Franklin’s City Council heard about a new downtown initiative Tuesday, and the police chief explained the new crosswalks along Main Street.
Diane Wiltz, Franklin’s Merchant’s Association, announced an upcoming endeavor of the Merchants Association, in an ongoing effort to “revitalize” downtown Franklin.
Wiltz declared May 3, the first Thursday in May, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. as a new beginning, of sorts. That is when the Lamp Post Art Stroll will take place, downtown.
Wiltz recommended the art stroll as a “particular opportunity to see art by local artists, shopping, music and refreshments and of course, there will be specials and door prizes.”
She went on to confirm the re-establishment, by participating downtown merchants, of the first Thursday of the month, as an opportunity for working people to shop after their workdays, with shops staying open on those days until 6 p.m. instead of closing at their normal hour of 5 p.m.
She said the proposition for such extended hours had been tried in the past by FMA, though suspended too soon thereafter.
The initiative, according to Wiltz, has been decided will iterate again, “to see if we can encourage, and help our locals and anybody else, to come and shop.”
“We invite all of you,” Wiltz said, “to please come out and support, as we try to do, what? Revitalize downtown Franklin. That’s what the Franklin Merchants Association is trying to do… bring back the days of yore, if you will.”
In other business, Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire addressed the council concerning the new Main Street pedestrian crossings, and what the public can expect.
According to McGuire, the Department of Transportation and Development, which erected Main Street’s new traffic lights and pedestrian crossing lights, did so after conducting traffic surveys.
The lights are purported to operate in conjunction with the traffic patterns recorded by the surveys, and any changes made to lane flow and light timing at affected intersections, will operate in conjunction with survey results, as well.
McGuire referred citizens with questions concerning state ordnances governing movement through Main Street’s new traffic conditions, to: Louisiana Revised Statute 32:232, or call Franklin Police Department with any questions.
She advised that when crossing at a crosswalk, the pedestrian has the right of way as long as they have “control” of the crosswalk; which is to say that once they’ve begun to cross, regardless of what the lights may indicate during the pedestrian crossing, the right of way remains with the pedestrian until they are safely across the road.
Finally, as the department reports portion of the meeting came to a close, Franklin’s Chief Financial Officer Edward Hay addressed the council.
Hay brought to the council’s attention suspected public tampering with water meters, and the legal repercussions of being caught tampering.
Hay said that in 2016, new water meters were installed throughout Franklin, at the cost of $1.6 million.
“We assumed that the citizens of Franklin would understand that that is an expensive proposition for us to be involved in, and that we need to take diligent care of those assets that we purchased,” Hay said.
“What’s happening in a couple of instances is extensive damage to some meters.”
Hay said he wants property owners and renters to understand that their responsibility for the meters on their property is set by city ordnance.
According to Hay, in Nov., 2016, the council passed ordnance that stated that city water meters are not to be tampered with, under penalty of fine.
“Section 82.5 of the code of ordnance of the city of Franklin indicates that all water meter devices and valves on the city’s side of the meter, if they’ve been altered or tampered with, you could be assessed a service charge,” Hay said. The charges range in sequence from a friendly warning, to $25 to $50 to $75, as service visits persist.
The second section of the ordnance states that if the meters have to be replaced due to tampering or damage due to negligence, the customer is to be charged the $500 replacement value of the new meter.

A suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries Sunday morning when a Patterson police officer shot the suspect after he pointed an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at the officer following a vehicle chase, Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting has been turned over to state police. The officer didn't sustain any injuries.

Shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday, Patterson police began pursuit of a vehicle traveling at a high speed traveling on Live Oak Street, LaSalle said. The suspect vehicle then hit a fence near the intersection of Cleveland and Live Oak streets, the chief said.

The suspect then exited the vehicle and fled toward a church on Harry D Street at which time the officer located the suspect. At this time, the suspect turned toward with a firearm and was given verbal commands to drop the weapon, LaSalle said.

Church was convening when the incident took place.

The suspect didn't drop the weapon, and the officer then fired several rounds toward the suspect, LaSalle said. The suspect, identified as Marcus A. White, 25, of Patterson, was hit by gunfire, LaSalle said.

White then dropped his firearm and tried to flee from the scene, but was quickly caught by the officer, LaSalle said. White's injuries weren't life threatening, the chief said.

The officer, whose name LaSalle didn't release, wasn't injured in the incident, he said. The officer "only used necessary force" when he fired his weapon, LaSalle said.

Police recovered an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, which White had allegedly pointed at the officer. The rifle's magazine was "fully loaded," LaSalle said.

One of the rounds that the officer fired went "directly into the magazine" of the suspect's rifle, he said.

LaSalle said he immediately called Louisiana State Police to the scene to investigate the matter. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office also assisted with traffic around the scene.

Louisiana State Police Detectives booked White into the St. Mary Parish jail Sunday on charges of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, resisting an officer and felon in possession of a firearm, Troop I Master Trooper Brooks David said in a news release. This case remains an active investigation, David said.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave while state police investigate the matter, LaSalle said.

Two retired police officers who were at the scene assisted in apprehending White because authorities didn't know whether he had another weapon on him, LaSalle said.

A passenger in the vehicle White was driving, Aalijah Charles, 34, of Houma, was charged with disturbing the peace and released on bail, police said.

On Sunday, Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations was requested by the Patterson Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting in the city limits of Patterson, a state police news release said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, an officer with the Patterson Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation, David said.

The driver refused to stop for the officer, David said. While fleeing the officer, the suspect vehicle crashed into a fence and the driver fled on foot with a rifle, the release stated. The officer chased the suspect on foot and at some point during the chase the officer fired his duty weapon striking the suspect, David said.

Narcotics detectives arrested two suspects Thursday after detectives saw one man throw a bag of crack cocaine out of a vehicle in Baldwin, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum said in a news release.

—Daniel Ray Miller, 29, of Cotton Street in Charenton, was arrested at 6:32 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, obstruction of justice, possession of drug paraphernalia and transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substances activity.

—Keith Allen Clark, 44, of Brashear Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:32 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with possession of crack cocaine and improper lane usage.

Narcotics detectives investigating illegal drug activity in Baldwin observed Miller and Clark at a business on La. 182. Detectives had a warrant for Clark as the result of a traffic stop on U.S. 90 in Patterson.

As they approached the two men, Miller saw detectives and attempted to drive away from the area, Anslum said. A detective observed Miller throw a bag of crack cocaine out of the vehicle, the sheriff said.

Miller was detained. The K-9 Unit was deployed on the vehicle. K-9 Buddy indicated that the odor of narcotics was present on the vehicle. Detectives conducted a search of the car and found a razor blade used to cut the crack cocaine, Anslum said.

Miller and Clark were booked into parish jail. Miller was released on $5,000 bail. Bail for Clark is set at $30,750.

Anslum reported that deputies responded to 41 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Gary Vining, 49, of Venus Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:05 a.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery.

—Donald Vining, 75, of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:05 a.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery.

—Cody Vining, 21, of Venus Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:05 a.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery.

—Wynn Whitehurst, 42, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace fighting.

Deputies responded to a report of a fight that occurred near the intersection of Southeast Boulevard and Saturn Road in Bayou Vista. The deputy found that Whitehurst engaged in an argument with Donald Vining, Anslum said.

The argument escalated into a physical encounter between the four people during which Gary Vining, Donald Vining and Cody Vining struck Whitehurst, Anslum said. All four suspects were released on summonses to appear in court May 30.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 35 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Renea K. Wilson, 39, of Snead Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Sixth Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Wilson was identified as one of the parties involved. Wilson was allegedly in an intoxicated state, Blair said. Wilson was jailed.

—Edward J. Breaux, 36, of Katie Court in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 1:01 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving under suspension and failure to yield.

Patrol officers responded to the area of La. 182 in regard to a crash. Officers arrived, and Breaux was identified as a driver of one of the vehicles. Police found evidence placing Breaux at fault for the crash, Blair said.

Breaux also had a suspended driver’s license. Breaux was jailed.

—Dustin C. Lennep, 41, of Barrow Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with probation violation. Lennep was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Lennep was jailed.

—Kacy L. Bonin, 32, of Nevada Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:32 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana and disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Nevada Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Bonin was identified. Bonin was in an intoxicated state and in possession of suspected marijuana, Blair said. Bonin was jailed.

—Jeremy McCollough, 38, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:34 p.m. Thursday on charges of DWI first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in regard to a vehicle suspected of being operated in an erratic manner. A description of the vehicle was obtained. When officers arrived, they located the suspected vehicle in the area.

A stop was initiated, and McCollough was identified as the driver. McCollough was in an intoxicated state, Blair said. Police suspect he was under the influence of narcotics. McCollough registered 0.000 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test.

McCollough submitted to blood analysis, which is pending. McCollough was jailed.

—Kahnie Gaudet, 47, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:09 p.m. Thursday on a charge of violation of a protective order.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Railroad Avenue in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Gaudet was identified as one of the parties involved. Gaudet had a protective order prohibiting her from being at the home, Blair said. Gaudet was jailed.

—Robert C. Henson, 43, of Olive Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 2:39 a.m. Friday on a charge of DWI first offense.

Patrol officers located a vehicle in the area of La. 182 with a flat tire. Officers made contact with the driver, who was sleeping behind the wheel. Henson was identified as the driver, Blair said.

Henson was in an intoxicated state and refused a field sobriety test, Blair said. Henson also refused a chemical test at the jail. Henson was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Tanner Scarbrough, 18, of Bayou Black Drive in Houma, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with two counts of illegal possession of a stolen firearm and illegal supplying of a felon with a firearm. No bail was set yet.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.